episode_0411

On the fourth day of the midterm evaluation, the tournament preliminary round was held.

Since most students across all grades participate in the preliminaries, there are many matches that are held at the same time.

In other words, it is inevitable that there will be empty seats in the stadium. Since outsiders are not allowed to enter the preliminary round, it is normal for there to be a lot of empty seats.

“Wow~ There are so many.”

That’s what the average is like.

Even in a cradle full of promising youngsters, people flock to places where promising youngsters are playing.

This stadium in particular was extremely crowded.

Even if you look around with your eyes wide open, there are no empty seats, and it is packed with no place to stand.

Students, faculty, and residents of Siyoram are filling up the seats. A man who looked around stuck out his tongue.

“Is it okay if this isn’t broadcasted live? There will be so many people who miss it because they can’t come in… ”

“The video will be uploaded later. There’s no need to do that.”

“The sense of presence is important… Ugh. Well, I guess there’s nothing I can do about it.”

The man who had been eating shrugged his shoulders. Then he turned his eyes to the person sitting next to him.

“So. Now open your mouth. How was the actual test yesterday?”

“They say it’s confidential. If you keep asking, I might call the main office.”

“That’s it… Oh, did I ask something important?”

The man was an administrative staff member at the city cradle. The friend sitting next to him, Nation, was one of the combat training instructors.

“I’m just asking for your opinion. Rumors are already going around, but I want to hear it from someone who saw it right in front of me.”

“… … ”

Nation let out a sigh at the man’s question.

He was in charge of conducting the combat training yesterday.

Although it is something I have adapted to after practicing it for several years, the memory of yesterday remains vivid.

This is because the group he was in charge of had Lee Ha-yool.

That was also the reason why the friend who followed me kept asking questions.

“Just… ”

“Just?”

Nation searched his memory for a moment. It was such a vivid memory that it wasn’t hard to recall. He shook his head and shivered.

“… I can’t explain it. There’s no need to. It’s faster to just look at it. ”

“Oh my. You’re wasting your time.”

The man with the frown turned his head.

My ears were tickled for a moment. Cadets came up from each passageway, and exclamations rang out from all directions.

“Iya… ”

One side is Lee Ha-yool, whose name is now painful to even talk about.

There are many pictures and videos on the internet, but the real thing is overwhelming. The exclamations that had been flowing out were momentarily silenced.

“… I had a feeling it would happen.”

The other side.

Aiden, who came up with a dejected expression, let out a hollow laugh.

.

.

.

“Isn’t this really rigged? We met at last year’s tournament. We met at the midterm evaluation in the second semester. Huh? How many times did I get hit?”

-Ahahaha…

A little distance away. The area was filled with the sounds of people, but the sound was not missed. Lee Ha-yool gave an awkward smile.

-You clearly said it was random… We met again by coincidence

“Random right? Be honest. You didn’t suddenly start a fight early last year, have ill feelings, and deliberately name me, right? ”

-Absolutely not…

Artifacts such as the Sky Wings or the Necklace of Confession cannot be used in tournaments.

Lee Ha-yool, who had sent a telegram instead of a necklace, shook his head from side to side.

It’s the same here, it’s a bit shaky.

Again, again, again, it’s Aiden.

There are approximately 600 first-year students. Even if some students do not participate in production or assistant majors, this one out of hundreds was the first to be chosen.

Yesterday, while I was making the command, I checked the announced match schedule and was so shocked.

[Contact: Vice President]

▷Me: Is it possible that the timetable is modified randomly?

▷Vice President: The tournament brackets were randomly assigned.

▷Vice President: Is there anyone you would like to revise?

▷Me: No no no

Just in case, I contacted the Vice President separately to confirm.

“Oh my, what a misfortune… No, maybe I’m just lucky? I’m getting a lot of attention. Last year, I showed my ability to expand and got a lot of invitations. ”

-… Congratulations

“But I also want to go to the main event… I told my hometown people to watch the main event broadcast during last vacation… ”

-That’s… regrettable

Lee Ha-yool avoided eye contact with a puzzled expression. Aiden also sighed and drew his sword.

In any situation, it is the right attitude to desire victory.

But Aiden couldn’t even think of winning against Lee Ha-yul.

‘Until last year, we could have crossed swords…’

Even though I was watching from the other side, the fight was established through sword fighting… but now I was confident that I could fall with a single wave of my hand.

[The tournament preliminary round will be held from now on]

There was a sign of the beginning. Aiden took a deep breath and channeled his magical power into his body.

[The rules are virtual duels. It allows for full-scale combat, including physical and physical, magic and unique abilities. Please be advised that the duel can be stopped at will at the discretion of the moderator in charge of mediation.]

‘Even if I can’t win, I have to try what I know how to do.’

[Then, both sides prepare]

Aiden narrowed his eyes as he aimed his sword. His enhanced vision closely observed Lee Ha-yool’s actions.

How will the interest rate come out?

‘How would I know that?’

The talents that Lee Ha-yul possesses are countless. What if you use them in multiples and combine them? No matter how much you rack your brain, the answer won’t come out.

[Start evaluation!]

Declaration of commencement.

At the same time, Aiden kicked the ground and ran. His body, running with the power of the strong body technique, closed the distance in an instant.

There aren’t many long-range control methods for Aiden. It’s better to stick with him no matter what.

-Kugu-kung!

Of course, it didn’t stick.

Lee Ha-yool’s two hands, moving much faster than Aiden’s, made a hand gesture.

A thick rock pillar rises in the middle of the path. The engravings on the rough surface are so cool that it feels like it is advertising a work of art.

Not only that, it exudes a blatant uniqueness that leaves no room for misunderstanding.

‘Taesan.’

Aiden’s impression was automatically crumpled. I saw it from inside the tower, but I still don’t understand it.

I understand that it’s a big deal, but Taesan? And Da-Chang-Hae? How can one person have all that?

The rumor that this rate is a weapon of war prepared by the top shareholders is more shocking than the rumor.

‘What should I do?’

Should I dodge to the side? A trap? The basis of the formation? There was no need to think about it.

Bam! A heavy, gray hand burst through the old-fashioned pillar.

It was a strangely shaped hand. The grip was large compared to the arm. The claw-like fingers exuded a sharp energy like a blade.

A hand grabbed the rock pillar and pulled the body out. The pillar collapsed, revealing the being inside.

A slender body with a gray coloration. The legs are inverted joints and the height is long enough to be about eight feet.

The most noticeable thing is the right arm.

Actually, it’s a bit odd to call it an arm. There’s a long, large, thin blade extending from below the elbow.

‘He must be a commander. He looks so cool.’

The commander is usually known as a meat shield, and that is indeed the case, but Aiden could not recognize that commander as a meat shield.

The atmosphere was so ominous. I felt a thrill as if my skin was being cut by a knife.

-Huh?

The commander’s head tilted. Three pairs of young eyes scanned the area, then focused on Aiden.

The moment the eerieness grew stronger, I turned my head without hesitation.

-Crunch!

A flash of light flashed before my eyes. The tips of my hair felt cold. Large thorns filled my vision.

‘So fucking fast…!’

He raised his sword without gritting his teeth. The clean trajectory aimed for the commander’s head.

-Bang!

A thick grip blocked the sword. The martial arts were already at their maximum, and the sword blade was wrapped in strength.

But it was still blocked.

The black magic wrapped around my palm. I cut it, but it became a buffer. I couldn’t cut my palm properly. It was because my palm was incredibly strong to begin with.

The commander’s eyes narrowed.

The blade-like fingers bent. Crunch! The magical power and energy clashed and creaked. At the same time, the blade cut through the air and flew towards the neck.

‘Don’t break my precious sword!’

Aiden opened his eyes and twisted his sword. Crack! He pulled out the sword with graceful skill and immediately thrust it into the blade.

-Kagagak!

The swords were intertwined. The swords pushed and pulled each other.

It was a skill that could only be described as swordsmanship. Aiden’s face turned astonished.

The commander is mostly known as a meat shield. In reality, it is mostly used that way.

Since he is already dead, injuries do not matter. This is a tactic to force him into a higher weight class.

‘Are you in command?’

The commander in chief was different.

Right sword, left hand.

The trajectory of the fluttering blade was twisted repeatedly.

It is divided into truth and fiction. It is difficult to see through. Even if you see through it, the swordsmanship that penetrates this side is sharp enough to make you feel cold.

Left hand. The non-sword hand is just as threatening.

If you focus only on the right-handed person, your left hand will suddenly reach out and grab you.

If you’re lucky, you’ll get your strength ripped off and escape, but if you’re unlucky, you’ll either lose a limb or just be finished.

Defense, not offense, is also effective. The wide hand spreads out like a shield and keeps kicking away the swords that are digging in.

‘Is this the order?’

I can understand if they are pushed back in weight class, but they are not overwhelming in skill.

It is common sense that a commander cannot fully demonstrate his skills while alive. This common sense is being denied as if it were natural.

I’ve heard that the commander who raised the Taesan has different abilities, but I’ve never heard of it being this good.

-Bang!

At the end of the hundreds of steps, Ro’s body was thrown backwards. In the moment of distance, Eden caught his breath.

-Kiririk…

The commander didn’t stick right away. He was looking around as if he was trying to figure out the situation.

Only then did I notice what was behind the commander.

Lee Ha-yool stands still with his hands clasped in front of his chest.

At first glance, you might think he’s manipulating the command, but considering Lee Ha-yool’s skills… he’s just sitting there.

“… Is the difference really true… ”

Aiden let out a sigh of relief.

It was a funny situation where the drunkard was left alone and the commander was having a fierce fight.

Last year it was like a dog’s paw, but this time… It’s funny to even say anything about it.

‘really.’

The gap is so huge that I can’t help but laugh. It’s like the sword I’m holding in my hand is in vain.

‘The world is so cruel.’

I aimed my sword. The thought that came to mind just now is something I had already decided on.

Talent is different for everyone and is relative.

To the general public, superhumans are lucky and talented people.

For a superhuman with no special abilities, Aiden is one of the lucky and talented ones.

‘There are so many people worse than me.’

There are countless people who are better than Aiden. People with unique abilities, qualities, talents, etc. who are more outstanding than him.

It’s probably the gay rate at the top.

The talent I was so curious about.

“After… ”

The blade of the sword trembled. The formless and colorless uniqueness rippled.

I stopped comparing talents.

It was a wrong idea from the beginning.

The concept’s name itself is unique.

It’s a trait that only I have, so what’s the point of comparing it to others?

‘I just have to surpass yesterday’s me.’

They say competition in the world is inevitable, but at least there is less need to compare yourself to others in order to cultivate your own uniqueness.

Aiden answered like that. This was also Aiden’s unique answer.

-Crack!

As I blinked, the commander appeared right in front of my nose.

Aiden crossed his sword.

Swordsmanship skills expansion ability

Cut-off joint

The wind blew.

The horizontal trajectory. It didn’t match. The commander, who bent his back as if his head would touch the floor, laughed. The blade that had been cutting the ground rose.

‘again.’

The commander’s eyes opened wide.

The sword was drawn diagonally, tilted to the lower right. A cutting combination. A comb-like sword strike flew in. The commander extended his left hand.

-Clang!

The bent fingers shot up. Magic was cut. The slash hit the palm. There was a sound of metal tearing and the palm split apart.

-Kiririk…!

The left hand was difficult to use. At the same time as the grasp, the commander swung his right arm. The intact blade was wrapped in black magic and rushed forward.

‘more.’

The sword went up to the upper left. This one squeezed the power of the evil spirit again. The uniqueness expanded upward.

Cut-off. The sword fell vertically and struck the blade.

-Kkwad, thud!

A similar sound to before. Metal tore and flew through the air.

“… … .”

In the brief silence, a blade was struck down on the floor.

The dark magical power wrapped around it dispersed.

-Kkireuk…

The commander’s eyes rolled back and he examined his arm.

My left hand was cut off. My right hand was torn off.

-Tsk!

The mouth that had been drawn like a gag opened wide.

Magical power was absorbed from the gaping mouth, and the magic power was split by the drawn sword blade.

Crack! His mouth, already wide open, shook up and down. The commander, who was spewing out black blood, staggered back.

“Huh… Phew… ”

Aiden, drenched in sweat, let out the breath he had been holding.

“Oh, oh… .”

Those who were immersed in the game with him also let out a sigh.

Although it was a stadium that almost everyone came to with the interest rate in mind, interest was already divided among Aiden.

‘and.’

Lee Ha-yool, who had been quietly watching from behind, also shed exclamations.

‘That’s amazing.’

The admiration was genuine.

A body that has only the necessary parts of a monster close to the original attached with precision.

A suitable idea, almost entirely contained in the power of knowledge.

This is the commander who raised and corrected the mountain.

Of course, I limited the weight class a bit to see the skill level, but I didn’t expect to be subdued this quickly.

‘Well, Aiden is also a student who entered through recommendation.’

I thought about it during the last dungeon practice, but it was only natural that he would become that strong.

Lee Ha-yool nodded and made a congratulatory statement.

Kukukung! A pillar rose up on either side of him. Those who had been clapping stopped.

“… Uh.”

Aiden, who was feeling a sense of accomplishment while holding his breath, blinked at the strange feeling of awkwardness.

“No way─”

Bam! As if it was the right answer, something shot out from the rock pillar. One was a hammer, and the other was a spear blade.

The rock pillar collapsed.

One was similar to the command just now.

A long and slender body. Both hands are intact, but they hold a long spear.

The other one was a little different.

A large, thick body. In one hand he holds a hammer larger than Jackie, and in the other hand he holds a shield that he can use to swing his large body.

momentum?

He looked no different from the commander I had just subdued after a desperate struggle.

Aiden’s impression was terribly crumpled.

“Fuck talent gap.”

Two commanders rushed in.

.

.

.

“Kaaaah… ”

3 minutes later.

After a desperate resistance, Aiden rolled on the floor.